Our View: The mosquito buzz

So far this year, Bristol County — which has earned the unfortunate distinction as being within the commonwealth's epicenter of mosquito-borne illness — has been spared from an onslaught of mosquitoes and the potentially deadly diseases they carry.

So far this year, Bristol County — which has earned the unfortunate distinction as being within the commonwealth’s epicenter of mosquito-borne illness — has been spared from an onslaught of mosquitoes and the potentially deadly diseases they carry.

Although the buggers may be off to a slow start, we’re hardly out of the woods. Health officials expect that this year, the threat may surface later in the season. For their own comfort and safety, wise homeowners ought to take steps now to make sure backyards do not become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Although many of us might like to be able to vaccinate ourselves and our children against mosquito-borne illnesses, it appears unlikely that pharmaceutical companies will develop such a shot. There’s just not enough demand or financial incentive for these companies to spend the millions — even billions — of dollars needed to develop it.

In the absence of a vaccine, it behooves all of us to take precautions, such as avoiding the outdoors during peak mosquito hours like dawn and dusk, using mosquito repellent and wearing long pants and shirts with long sleeves. Heavy rain — like our area saw on the Fourth of July — could bring in the bumper crop of mosquitoes and the illnesses that we fear.

It’s said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Trying to prevent the disease is our best course of action. Residents can take some steps now, such as regularly emptying areas where standing water collects so that mosquitoes cannot breed, to avoid mosquito problems later in the season.

It is important to stay informed of aerial and ground spraying and take precautions to protect your families and pets. Officials ought to use all available means to keep the public informed of spraying activity.

While we must remain vigilant in protecting ourselves, our families and our communities against the threat of mosquito-borne illnesses, we also need to keep our fears in perspective. The incidences of EEE are a relative drop in the bucket. Last year, only 1 percent of the 6,092 mosquito samples collected in Massachusetts tested positive for EEE. Since 1938, 102 Massachusetts residents have contracted EEE.

However, 26 people have contracted EEE in Massachusetts over the past decade, and 16 of those cases have originated in Bristol, Norfolk or Plymouth counties. Although it’s rare, contracting such illnesses can be devastating, debilitating and even deadly. Twelve of the 26 people infected with EEE over the past decade died.

Staying informed about the prevalence of mosquito-borne illnesses in your area over the course of the season can be your best weapon to avoid it. To that end, Bristol County Mosquito Control Project includes spraying updates on its Twitter page, @BCMCPMOSQ. Tips are available on its website, bristolcountymosquitocontrol.com, which also has information on how to make a spraying request. To request spraying on your property, call 508-823-5253, fax 508-828-1868 or email RequestBristolMCP@comcast.net.